Selections:
#7 - Princess Grace (BEST BET) - $4.80
#1 - Mr Brightside - $1.95
#2 - Alligator Blood - $4.20
#5 - Francesco Guardi - $26.00
BEST BET - #7 - Princess Grace (BEST BET)
I think that this is Mr Brightsides’ race to lose and if you were following me two weeks ago on Memsie Stakes weekend at Caulfield I tipped Princess Grace to roll him there and she nearly did. Well, depends how you define nearly; she set third on the leaders back through the run before cutting back inside under Shinn’s steering and starting a powerful run only to be held up at a crucial stage in the straight and when she got clear air again she was super strong through the line to finish second only to Mr Brightside. She will be approaching his peak now third up, the extra 200m looks good as she has never been unsighted in seven runs at the mile with three wins and the rest placings. I think that she can definitely turn the tides now.
THE DANGER - #1 - Mr Brightside
No knock on the Hayes’ boys top star in Mr Brightside who has probably forgotten the feeling of being beaten by now after winning four in a row dating back to the All Star Mile in March this year. His last win a fortnight back in the Memsie was nothing short of impressive when he was three wide all trip and still found plenty under Craig Will to kick away from the field at the 50-100m and win. He’s 9 from 13 at the mile, loves racing here and is in career best form.
VALUE BET - #5 - Francesco Guardi
It is hard to see a horse winning outside of the first couple lines of betting in this race but if there’s going to be shock I think it’s coming from Waller’s Francesco Guardi who is looking towards the Cups again not so later this year. He resumed in the Winx stakes when trapped on the inside in the worst ground after not being seen since the end of 2022 and had his usual tough, strong stride where he just kept finding the line, albeit not a winning chance. He’s not ready yet to take this out IMO but he could easily squeeze a place as he keeps working towards the biggest races in the country that come in a couple months.